The Shires

We're showing people it can be done.

- Laura Bethell

It’s been just over a year since I last met with Crissie and Ben of The Shires. They were, at that time, touring BRAVE, their debut album that made them the first UK country act to place in the Top 10 of the UK Albums Chart. The album’s success introduced them as‘ambassadors’ of country music in the UK and their activity in the music industry was set to mark the widespread acknowledgement that modern country music needed.Working with Ward Thomas, the two groups have had a significant effect on the country music scene in the UK and have re-ignited a country music flame that was close to burning out.

The Shires comprise of Crissie Rhodes and Ben Earle, two singer-songwriters who, contrary to popular opinion, have not been an overnight success. "I know a lot of people think we’ve been an overnight success in some respects but the amount of gigs we’ve done... the amount of work we’ve done together. I mean the amount of gigs we’ve done must be getting close to over a hundred, in the space of three and a half years," says Ben. Before The Shires, the duo spent many years working independently to achieve a career in music. Crissie was a wedding singer and a former X Factor contestent in 2013, finally being sent home by her mentor Nicole Scherzinger from the Bootcamp round. Ben was a solo artist who actually supported KT Tunstall on tour, was also a former X Factor contestant the year before Crissie, and was again mentored by Nicole. The experience taught the duo a lot.